Box Score

SILVER CITY, N.M. – With the game tied at halftime, the Western New Mexico University football team turned it on in the second half, outscoring Western State College, 24-3, on their way to a 31-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon for Homecoming at Ben Altamirano Field.


It was an in auspicious start for WNMU (4-2, 3-1 RMAC), as WSC (1-5, 1-3 RMAC) forced a three-and-out on the Mustangs first offensive possession and then followed that with a blocked punt and recovery by Demo Schmidt giving the Mountaineers great field position at the Mustang 13.


Five plays later, a two-yard rush by Germaine Daniels gave WSC the first score and following the extra point they opened up a 7-0 lead four minutes in.


WNMU would respond later in the first frame, as the Mustangs began just across midfield at the Mountaineer 49. Abraham Macias (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) chewed up seven yards rushing after an incomplete pass, which led to a fourth-and-three at the 42.


Trick or treat then came early for WNMU, as a fake punt was snapped to the up-man Bernard Williams, and he had plenty of real estate in front, rumbling all the way down to the Mountaineer eight. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the 34, but was still enough to keep the drive going.


David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) wasted little time cashing in, as he went up top to Markis Sumpter (Oceanside, CA/Fallbrook High School) down the far sidelines for a touchdown of 34 yards and after Kameron Drawhorn (San Diego, CA/Fallbrook HS) converted the extra point, the game was tied at seven with a little under three minutes to play in the first quarter.


That would turn out to be the last score of the first half, although both teams had chances.


WNMU had a drive down to the Mountaineer 24, but were faced with a fourth-and-four. Ingram's pass fell incomplete to Salvador Garcia (Anthony, TX/Anthony HS) turning the ball over on downs.


Later, the Mustang defense came through big, as WSC lined up for a 47-yard field goal that was missed, but a roughing the kicker penalty of five yards allowed another attempt. The next try, from 42 yards out had plenty of leg, but was wide right leaving the game still tied.


Then, WNMU had one more chance for points before the half, after Drawhorn kicked a perfect punt that sailed out-of-bounds at the WSC two, the defense held for a three-and-out.


The ensuing punt would give the Mustangs great starting field position at the Mountaineer 47.


WNMU moved the ball down the field, with Ingram connecting with Sumpter for 15 yards, a rush of his own for 10 and then another long pass, this one for 21 yards to Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) placed the ball at the WSC 21.


After an incompletion, Ingram hit Macias for six yards and on the end of the play a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball down to the nine for a first-and-goal with nine seconds left in the half.


But, the drive would end on the next play, as EJ Kreis was able to wrestle an interception away for the Mountaineers down at the two-yard line ending the first half tied at seven.


WNMU came out focused in the second half, as the defense forced a three-and-out to start the half, and after a short punt, the Mustangs began at their 46.


Ingram started the drive out right, hitting Daveon Barner (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Polytechnic) for 19 yards down to the 35.


Barner then took it on the ground for eight yards and after Ingram rushed the ball for 15 yards down to the 12, Barner finished off the drive with a 12-yard run for the touchdown. Drawhorn added the extra point to give WNMU a 14-7 lead with just under 12 minutes in the third quarter.


WSC answered with a lengthy 10-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a Lloyd Tucker 27-yard field goal to leave the lead at four, 14-10, with six minutes to play in the third frame.


After WNMU went three-and-out, the defense came away with the turning point of the game on the next Mountaineer drive.


With WSC faced with a third-and-13 at their 20, Jamie Jensen tried to fit a pass in downfield, but Nicholas Cook (Winnetka, CA/Bishop Alemany HS) dove in front to come away with the interception at the WSC 36.


The offense went to work, as Barner rushed for nine and then ten yards down to the 17.


After Barner picked up two more yards on the ground, Ingram passed to Barner for a five-yard gain setting up third-and-three at the ten.


Macias took the carry up the middle on the dive for four yards and a big first down.


Barner would get down to the one on the next rush and after being stopped on second-and-goal, he found his way into the end zone on third-and-goal at the one to boost the lead to 21-10 after Drawhorn converted another point after.


The defense continued to stifle the Mountaineers, forcing another three-and-out and giving the offense the ball out near midfield.
Barner then broke off his biggest rush of the day, breaking through for 36 yards all the way down to the WSC 21.


The drive would stall there, but Drawhorn came through, cashing in on a 38-yard field goal to up the lead to 24-10 with 13 minutes to play in the game.


WNMU would keep the pressure on, as they made it three straight possessions and three straight scores on their next drive.
Another three-and-out by WSC gave WNMU the ball at their four.


Barner gave the Mustangs some breathing room, rushing for 13 yards out to the 17.


After Barner chewed up four more on the ground, Ingram showed some moves in the open field, cutting back a couple of times to gain 14 yards out to the 35.


Barner then took over again, going for 30 yards on the ground, pushing the ball all the way down to the Mountaineer 35.


The trick or treat bag once again came out for the Mustangs, as Ingram threw the ball to Shamone Fletcher (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS), he then promptly threw it back to Ingram and he gained 26 yards all the way down to the nine. A holding penalty pushed the ball back to the 19 and three plays later, Barner again broke loose, as Ingram timed a perfect option-pitch to him in stride for the 11-yard touchdown run and after the extra point a 31-10 lead with eight minutes to play.


WNMU outgained WSC (447-224), including a 243-87 advantage on the ground.


Barner led the way on the ground, picking up 146 yards on just 14 attempts and three touchdowns. Macias added 49 yards on 14 attempts.


Ingram was 15-of-35 passing for 178 yards a touchdown and two interceptions. Receiving-wise, Sumpter caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Pompey added four catches for 57 yards.


Defensively, Jacob Cross (Bakersfield, CA/Centennial HS) led the way with 10 stops and one-and-a-half tackles for loss. Sean Licudine, Anthony Phillips (Houston, TX/Dobie HS), Ryan Nolen and Chris Sneed (Marshall, TX/Marshall HS) all had six tackles apiece, while Sneed had two tackles for loss.


Salih Johnwell (Pomona, CA/Etiwanda HS) also had an interception in the fourth quarter that was returned 40 yards.

Cornelius "Pat" Patterson was also inducted into the WNMU Hall of Fame at hafltime.


WNMU will hit the road next Saturday when they will play at Adams State College with kickoff set for 1 p.m.

 
                               Box Score (Final)
  Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
  -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
  Western State.......  7  0  3  0  - 10       Record: (1-5,1-3)
  Western N.M.........  7  0 14 10  - 31       Record: (4-2,3-1)
 
  Scoring Summary:
  1st 11:14 WSC - G. Daniels 2 yd run (Lloyd Tucker kick), 5-13 2:10, WSC 7 - WNMU 0
      02:45 WNMU - Markis Sumpter (Oceanside, CA/Fallbrook High School) 34 yd pass from David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) (K. Drawhorn kick), 5-49 1:49, WSC 7 - WNMU 7
  3rd 11:35 WNMU - D. Barner 12 yd run (K. Drawhorn kick), 5-54 1:40, WSC 7 - WNMU 14
      06:32 WSC - Lloyd Tucker 27 yd field goal, 10-66 4:56, WSC 10 - WNMU 14
      00:13 WNMU - D. Barner 1 yd run (K. Drawhorn kick), 8-36 3:40, WSC 10 - WNMU 21
  4th 13:05 WNMU - K. Drawhorn 38 yd field goal, 5-30 1:32, WSC 10 - WNMU 24
      08:37 WNMU - D. Barner 11 yd run (K. Drawhorn kick), 9-96 3:57, WSC 10 - WNMU 31
 
                                      WSC     WNMU
  FIRST DOWNS...................       13       27
  RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............    35-87   45-243
  PASSING YDS (NET).............      137      204
  Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  41-14-2  36-16-2
  TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   76-224   81-447
  Fumble Returns-Yards..........      1-9      0-0
  Punt Returns-Yards............     4-25     4-51
  Kickoff Returns-Yards.........     4-95     3-71
  Interception Returns-Yards....      2-3     2-40
  Punts (Number-Avg)............   8-40.6   5-36.6
  Fumbles-Lost..................      1-0      1-1
  Penalties-Yards...............     6-40   11-119
  Possession Time...............    28:16    31:44
  Third-Down Conversions........  4 of 19  8 of 17
  Fourth-Down Conversions.......   2 of 4   1 of 2
  Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      2-2      3-4
  Sacks By: Number-Yards........     4-36     2-17